GRAVENHURST — A traffic stop last night led police on a two-hour chase that ended just after midnight today with drug charges against two York Region men.

Police also seized a loaded pistol.

Both men are in custody and appeared in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge today for a bail hearing.

This was the second drug seizure by police this week, including one at the Beaver Creek prison Tuesday. See that story below.

Police say that at 9:25 p.m., Feb. 10, they were conducting speed enforcement on Hwy. 11 north in Gravenhurst and stopped a vehicle travelling over the speed limit.

Officers spoke the driver and learned he was on criminal conditions and not allowed out of his residence.

After exiting the vehicle, police say the driver became confrontational and fought with the officers.

As officers say they were gaining control of the driver, the passenger —  who was also on criminal restrictions — fled the scene on foot.

The OPP Canine Unit along with Emergency Response Team (ERT) and support from Rama Police were called in to help conducted a land search.

The passenger was located just before 12:30 a.m. today in a commercial area on Hwy. 11 and taken into custody.

Police say they seized a “sizeable quantity” of cocaine, fentanyl and a large sum of cash along with a loaded restricted firearm.

The driver, Ja Quwan Greaves, 23, was charged with:

• Possession of Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (3 counts- Cocaine, Fentanyl, Heroin) CDSA 5(2)
• Resist Peace Officer CC 129(a)
• Failure to Comply with Release Order CC 145(5)(a) X 5
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime CC 354(1)(a)
• Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm/Ammunition CC 95(b)
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm CC 95(a)
• Possession of Prohibited Device for a Dangerous Purpose CC 88
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm CC 92(1)
• Transport Firearm in a Careless Manner CC 86(1)
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm CC 91(1)
• Occupant of a Motor Vehicle Knowing there was a prohibited device or ammunition CC 94
• Speeding HTA 128

Also arrested was the passenger, 22 year-old Handel Hippolyte. He is charged with:

• Possession of Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (2 counts- Cocaine, Fentanyl) CDSA 5(2)
• Possession of Schedule I Substance (Heroin) CDSA 4(1)
• Failure to Comply with Release Order CC 145(5)(a) X 3
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime CC 354(1)(a)
• Fail to Comply with Probation Order CC 733.1(1) X 3
• Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm/Ammunition CC 95(b)
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm CC 95(a)
• Possession of Prohibited Device for a Dangerous Purpose CC 88
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm CC 92(1)
• Transport Firearm in a Careless Manner CC 86(1)
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm CC 91(1)
• Occupant of a Motor Vehicle Knowing there was a prohibited device or ammunition CC 94

Prison contraband, cannabis seized Tuesday

That follows a drug and contraband investigation Feb. 8 at the federal prison in Gravenhurst.

Police say that on Tuesday at 2 a.m. OPP were contacted by Beaver Creek prison officials about multiple packages found on the property, which they suspected to contain contraband intended for inside the institution.

During an investigation police and correctional officers located and arrested two people. As a result police seized cannabis, tobacco and cell phones that are prohibited inside the prison.

A joint police and prison investigation is ongoing.

Mandella Bringi, 32, and James Simmons, 37, are both charged with delivering contraband to an inmate CCRA 45(c).

They are to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge, March 29.